Teansfees from engeaved eolls



(No Model.) 4 Sheets8h.eet 1,

T. HARPER. MACHINE IOR PRINTING TRANSFERS FROM ENGRAVED ROLLS.

No. 509,528. Patented Nov. 28,1893.

INVYE NTOR .dttorney. v

WITNESSES:

(No Model.) 4Sheets-Sheet 2. T. HARPER.

MAGHINE FOR PRINTING TRANSFERS PROM ENGRAVED ROLLS.

No. 509,528. Patented NOV. 28,1893.

I ll ll' AN hHHHHHIH H I HUl hIJHHI HHI IHWHWHUHHWHHHH ll i lilie NMNNHI K WITNESSES 4 She'etsSheet 3.

(No Model.)

T. HARPER.

MACHINE FOR PRINTING TRANSFERS PROM ENGRAVED ROLLS.

Patented Nov. 28, 1893.

Attorney.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

T. HARPER.

MACHINE FOR PRINTING TRANSFERS ROM ENGRAVED ROLLS. A N0. 509,528.Patented Nov. 28, 1893.

INVENTO "N By WITNESSES:

Nrrno THOMAS HARPER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO \VILLIAM S.

HURLEY AND DAVID ALEXANDER, OF SAME PLACE, AND ASA P. MEY- LERT, OF NEWYORK, N. Y.

MACHINE FOR PRINTING TRANSFERS FROM ENGRAVED ROLLS.

SPECIFICATIOI! forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,528, datedNovember 28,1893.

Application filed July 16, 1892. Serial No. 440.191. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, THOMAS HARPER, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Brooklyn, Kings county, New York, have invented certain newanduseful Improvements in Machines for Printing Transfers from EngravedRolls, of which the followiugisaspecification.

My invention relates to a machine forprint- :0 ing transfers such as arecommonly employed in ornamenting glass, ceramic ware and the like, andthe object of my invention is to produce a simple and efficient machinefor this purpose having certain novel features which [5 will be fullydescribed hereinafter and specifically defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings serving to illustrate my invention-Figure1, is a side View of a machine embodying my invention,

as seen from the left in Fig. 2; and Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of theopposite side, showing the train of gears. Fig. 2, is a rear or backView of the machine. Fig. 3, is a front View of the machine. Fig. 4 is aview of the printing and impression rolls, detached and partly insection; and Fig. 5, is an end view of the said rolls. Figs. 6, '7 and8, are views of the doctor, detached.

A, A, are the two side-frames of the ma- 3o chine. As herein shown theseframes are connected together with suitable ties in a manner wellunderstood. The frames A, are alike, or may be alike, and the shafts androlls of the machine have bearings at their respect- 5 ive ends in saidframes, or in brackets and the like on the same; hence a description ofthe mountings at one side of the machine,- for example as seen in Fig.1,-will suffice to explain the construction. In a socket in the 40end-frame is set the stem of an adjustable bearing bracket a, alongitudinai groove in the stem, a, being engaged bya set-screw, a thisdevice prevents the cylindrical stem from turning in the socket. In thebracket is a 5 hearing for the journal 12*, of a roll I). On or forminga part of the brackctmis an inclined way, a on which restsa shaft, 0about which is wound a rollof tissue paper, 0. The weight of the rollcauses its peripheral surface to always press on the roll I). The web ofpaper, designated by 03, unwinds from the roll 0, and passes around roll11 in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 1. Below the paper carryingroll I), is a dampening roll, at. which has a cov ering d of felt,flannel, or the like, and which 5 is adapted to press peripherallyagainst the paper about the roll I) with a moderate degree of firmness.The journal, (1', of roller cl, has

a bearing in an adjustable forked bracket 2, and is retained in saidfork by a pin, e to permit of the convenient removal of the roll d. Thestem of the bracket 6, is secured adjustably in a socket in the frame Ain the same manner as described with reference to the bracket a, andthis permits the roll d, to be set up to the roll I) conveniently.

B, is a box, trough, or reservoir which contains the dampening liquid tobe applied to the paper an by the roll d, which latter dips into thesaid liquid. The liquid may be of the usual or any kind suitable forsizing or for dampening paper already sized, in order to make perfecttransfers. Mounted on the b0);

13, is a slide B, carrying a squeegee f, adapted to press on theabsorbent covering of the roller cl and remove therefrom the surplusliquid taken up from the box as the roller revolves. The adjustment ofthe squeegee toward orfro m the roller d is edected by means of a screwor screws, f which screw through lugs on the box B, and have collaredbearings in the carrying slide B.

A roller g, has bearin gs in adjustable forked brackets g, mounted inthe frames A 1n a manner substantially the same as described withreference to roll I), and d, the stems of the brackets being adjustablein their sockets. About this roll 9, at one end, and a roll,

h, at the other end, extends an endless carrying belt or apron, g whichwill be of flannel, go by preference, or of some similar absorbentmaterial. This absorbent apron will be as wide as, or wider than the webof paper, so

as to be in contact with the latter throughout its entire width. Theroll h, is the impression roll, and is, as here showmarranged centrallyin the frame A. This roll is hollow and its hollow journals, 71*, havebearings in blocks,

h, which are adapted to slide up and down in guide slots in the frame.The roll h, is raised or lowered by means of screws 7L2, which screwthrough plates on the frame and have collared bearings in the respectiveblocks h. The screws are provided with cranks 77/ for convenience inoperating them. Above the impression roll h, is mounted the printingroll, I which is also hollow. This roll I, has hearings in pillow blocksin the respective side frames A.

The specific construction of the roll I, is illustrated in Figs. 4 and5. Over the roll is slipped a thin integral metal shell or cylinder, Ion which is engraved the pattern to be printed, the engraving not beingdone directly on the surface of the roll as is usualin this class ofwork. After the shell is on the roll, annular caps, i, are slipped overthe ends of the shell and secured to the roll by screws 'i The shell isheld firmly on the roll and prevented from rotating about the same, by

means of set-screws, 71 which screw through the caps and bear againstthe ends of the shell. The shell may be removed from the roll by firstremoving one of the caps t' and then slipping it off; this enables theoperator to employ any number of shells adapted to fit the roll I, buthaving each a different design engraved or etched on its surface.

On one of the projecting journals of the roll I, are tight and loosedriving pulleys j and j; and on the journal, between the tight pulley j,and the frame, is fixed a spur wheel j This wheel may be fixed to, orcast in one with the pulleyj. The gear wheel j drives a rollj throughthe medium of gear wheels j and 7' the latter being fixed on the journalof the roll 9' The arrangement of the gearing last described is clearlyillustrated in Fig. 1. The roll j has bearings in projecting parts ofthe side frame and carries the upper end of an endless band or apron,70, which is as wide as, or a little wider than the web of paper 00 tobe printed. The length of the band 70, is some multiple of thecircumference of the en graved shell; as here shown its length is threetimes the circumference of the shell, and on itare fixed threetransversely arranged rubber strips, equally spaced. At its lower endthe band 70 passes around a roll 15 which is mounted in adjustablebrackets similar to those heretofore described, whereby the roll 70 maybe adjusted so as to tighten the band. Another endless band, it isarranged parallel with the band 70, and this band is carried on rolls onand m, which are mounted in a manner similar respectively to the rolls3' and k belt m, is arranged a plate 02, preferably of metal or wood,which serves as a backing for the operative part of the belt between therolls and prevents the belt from yielding or sagging. This plate n, issupported by bars a, which are secured to the main frame by screws orbolts. Between the plies or sides of the belt k, is situated a plate nsimilar to Between the two plies or sides of the plate 9%, and adaptedto perform functions like those of plate n. The plate n is madeadjustable toward and from the inner face of belt 70, by means ofscrews, 77. which screw through the bars 11', and are collared in bars,'n' on the plate H The web of paper, 20, after passing under theengraved roll and receiving the impression, is carried down between theadjacent faces of the belts It and 70 the rubber strips k, bearing on itand pressing it upon the belt These rubber strips bear on the printedface of the web, and between the designs printed thereon by the engravedshell.

I will now describe the inking mechanism of the machine. On the top ofthe frame A, is removably secured an auxiliary frame A, and in thisframe is mounted the ink-scraping device known as the doctor; in Fig. 1a part of the frame A, is broken away in order to show one end of thisdevice. The doctor, which is seen detached in Figs. 6, 7 and 8,comprises a blade or knife, 0, clamped between under and. upper plates,0' and 0 by bolts or screws 0 The doctor extends transversely across themachine above the printing roller I, and its edge bears on the engravedsurface of the shell in such a manner as to scrape off all of the inkfrom the engraved surface except that which fills the engraved lines. Onthe respective ends of the plate 0 are journals,'o which have bearingsin blocks, 0 which slide up and down in guide slots in the frame A. Inbars 19, extending across the slots in the frame, are screws 0, whichhave collared bearings at their lower ends in the respective bearingblocks 0 By means of these screws the angle at which the doctor is setmay be varied and adjusted. Extending transversely across the frame A,is a bar or plate q, in which are set screws 0, the tips of which bearon the plate 0, of the doctor and serve to press the edge of its blade0, down firmly on the engraved surface of the shell with the precisedegree of force required. As the roll I revolves the ink removed by theblade 0, is massed in front of the latter, and this mass of ink is takenup and again applied to the surface of the roll by an inking roller, 8,of roller composition, rubber, or the like, which is mounted inadjustable brackets, to, in front of the doctor so as to take up the inkaccumulating in front of the blade and again apply it to the engravedsurface. The ink required to supply the machine may be put on the roller5 with a pallet knife by the attendant and the doctor and inking rollerwill take care of it and properly distribute it. It will be seen that myconstruction obviates the use of an ink fountain, such as is usuallyemployed on printing machines. .I arrange the doctor above or on the topof the printing roll, and it is of such a length as to fit between theraised, circumferential ledges formed by the annularsecuring caps i. Theroller 3, which rolls theink into the engraved lines, the blade, 0, ofthe doctor, and the caps 5, inclose a space for the ink, of which thesurface of'the printing roll forms the bottom.

As the ink employed for making transfers of this character is quitestiff and viscid, it is desirable to heat the roll I and its engravedshell, and also to heat the impressing roll h; and to effect this resultI make the rollers I and 7t, and their respective journals, hollow, andpass through them the products of combustion from either an ordinarylamp, as t, or a gas burner, as 'u. A flared receiver, o, over the lampor gas burner leads the heated gases into a pipe o which is open at itsupper end to the hollow journal of the roll I, whence they escape at theopposite journal into a chimney or pipe v The connection of the pipes 12and o with the respective journals of the roll I, is quite loose so thatthe roller may revolve freely without interfering with the pipes.

Means of the same kind as those described are employed for heating theroll h, but these Will not require minute description. The flaredreceiver o receives the heated gases, which pass to the roller h by apipe, 0 and escape from it by a pipe 1: The main object in heating theroller h, is to dry out the endless flannel apron which takes the web wfrom the dampening roller; this drying of the apron permits the machineto run continuously and not endanger the weakening of the web of tissuepaper from over wetting.

I prefer to employ the heating devices I have described, but I do notwish to limit myself thereto as other known means may be employed forthe purpose, as for example those employed in heating rolls in calicoprinting. I prefer to employ the products of combustion, however, ratherthan steam, partly because the temperature is more easily regulated, andpartly because it is not easy to utilize steam with a roll adapted to beadjusted up and down, as the joints must be tight where steam is used.Moreover the condensation from the inevitable leakage of steam at thejoints is liable to injure the paper -of the web.

In operating the machine the roll of paper is placed in position as seenin Fig. 1, and the web is led between the rolls I and h, as beforedescribed, and then downward between the delivery belts 7c and Someengraved patterns do not extend entirely around the shellor cylinder,and in that case the rubber strips on the belt 70, will bear on theblank spaces of the web between the patterns; but where the patternextends entirely around the shell, I cut away the rubber strips atpoints where they would otherwise bearon the printed lines and leaveonly such parts as bear on the spaces between the lines. I have said thestrips 70, on the band or apron 7c, are of rubber, and I prefer toemploy this material, but it will be obvious that some other soft oryielding material of a like nature may be employed in lieu of rubber; orthey may be partly of wood and partly of rubber.

I am aware that it is not new to employ two paper-carrying belts one ofwhich has strips of rubber along its margins to grip the paper, and thisI do not claim; it is not practicable to drive belts satisfactorily whenprovided with strips arranged in this manner, owing to the increasedthickness and stiffness of the belt at the points where the strips aresituated, as these have to bend about the driving pulley or roll. Mystrips are narrow, and are arranged transversely of the belt.

The inking roller .9, is driven by the roll I, through friction; theroll 71, is driven from the roll I, through friction. The roll h, drivesthe roll g, through the apron The roll 9 and apron g drives the roll I),by friction, and the roll I), drives the dampening roll at by friction.The band or apron 70*, is driven from the roll by gearing, as seen inFigs. 1 and 1 In order to remove the shell I from the roll I, andreplace it by another, the supplementary frame A, is first detached andlifted off, togetlierwith the inking apparatus mounted in said frame.The pipes that carry off the products of combustion from the rolls arethen removed. The bearing cap at the end of roll I seen in Fig. 1, istaken off and that end of the roll raised until the shell I can heslipped 01f.

My object in arranging the impression roll h below the printing roll, sothat it is set up to the latter roll, is that this enables me to placethe doctor on the top of the printing roll for the reasons heretoforestated. It will be noted that in its operation the liquid is applied tothe web of paper, which afterward passes onto the absorbent apron gwhich takes up the surplus liquid from the Web. The heated roll it driesout the apron, and to some extent steams the paper, thereby insuring itbeing moistened equally throughout and to just the extent desired.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim 1. In a machine for printing transfers, the combination with theroll g, the heated roll h, and the endless blanket, 9 on the same, forcarrying the dampened web of paper, of means for dampening the papersituated near the point where the latter passes onto the absorbingblanket, whereby the latter absorbs the surplus moisture from the paperand is itself dried by the heated roll it, as set forth.

2. The combination with the roll I, and the thin, integral, engravedcylindrical shell 1*, adapted to fit on said roll, as set forth,of theannular caps,i, which take over the respective ends of the roll andshell, the screws which secure said caps to the roll, and the screwswhich hold the shell in position on the roll.

3. The combination with the roll I, and the engraved shell adapted tofit on said roll, of the annular caps, c, which form circumferentialledges on the roll near its ends, the doctor, arranged on the top of theroll with its blade between the said ledges, and the inking roller,arranged in front of said blade and in contact with the engraved surfaceof the shell, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a machine for printing from etched or engraved rolls, thecombination with the printing roll, of the doctor, arranged above orover the roll and provided with journals 0, having hearings invertically sliding guide blocks in the frame, the said blocks, thescrews for adjusting the blocks in their slots, and the set screws, 7*,arranged to bear on the doctor and press its blade up to the roll, asset forth.

5. In a machine for printing from etched or engraved rolls, thecombination with the and THOMAS HARPER.

Witnesses:

HERBERT BLossoM, PETER A. Ross.

